Methods for producing pavement-like sites

ABSTRACT

Methods of producing a pavement-like site composed of separate areas at least including concrete areas by laying fluid concrete, and by the use of formers to separate said areas. The site may be composed of areas of concrete and areas of natural or imitation grass, sand or gravel or the like or areas of different colored concrete and the formers may remain in the site or be removed therefrom at some stage during its construction.

[72] Inventor:

United States Patent Blackburn [54] METHODS FOR PRODUCING PAVEMENT-LIKE SITES Jack Blackburn, 25' Springfield Hall Gardens, Huddersfield, England 22 Filed: Mar. 25, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 22,455

[52] US. Cl ..94/l0, 94/4, 249/61 [51] Int. Cl. ,.E0lc 7/10 [58] Field of Search ..249/6l, 60, 118, 119, 129;

18/DIG. 12; 47/33; 94/2, l1, 13, 22, 24, 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 350,101 10/1886 Bates ..47/33 ux 1,583,516 5/1926 Anfield ..94/3 x 1,905,176 4/1933 Kieckhefer ..47/33 UX 1 1 May 23, 1972 Primary Examiner.lacob L. Nackenofi' AttorneyWatson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT Methods of producing a pavement-like site composed of separate areas at least including concrete areas by laying fluid concrete, and by the use of formers to separate said areas. The site may be composed of areas of concrete and areas of natural or imitation grass, sand of gravel or the like or areas of different colored concrete and the formers may remain in the site or be removed therefrom at some stage during its constr'uction.

1 1 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 23, 1972 1 3,664,241

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I 1 I 1 I I 101 1 101 1 1 I k J 4= L J FIG INVENTOR,

duds, 414% A! {ha/M ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

Patented 'May 23, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FlG.7

INVENTOR,' JAC/(KZflCKSU/(W ATTOR N EYS METHODS FOR PRODUCING PAVEMENT-LIKE SITES BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In order to produce a pavement-like concrete site which has a pleasing visual appearance it is known to use pre-cast concrete slabs. The use of such slabs is however limited and relatively expensive, and afirm base must be provided'where strength is important. The present invention aims at producing a site by simply using fluid in situ concrete and gives rise to various novel and pleasing affects which hitherto have not been achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a method of producing a pavement-like site at least partially composed'of concrete, said method being characterized by the use of a fonner adapted to separate areas'of the site at least during its construction.

The former is, in acco'rdance'with this invention, composed of a series of upstanding peaks adjoined by a base surface and resembles an egg tray.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the former is placed onto soil seeded with grass and concrete is placed over the upper surface of the former.

The upper parts of the peaks of the former can be removed to allow the growth of the grass.

Turf divots or imitation grass can be used instead of seeded grass.

In accordance with another aspect a concrete base is initially laid, the former is impressed into said concrete base, and a soil and grass mixture is placed over the upper surface of the former.

Alternatively, the former can be removed when the concrete base has hardened and set. The set concrete can be covered with a mixture of grass seed and soil.

In accordance with the invention two or multicolored concrete sites can be produced. Thus in one method a concrete base is initially laid, the former is impressed into said concrete base, and a further concrete of different color is placed over the upper surface of the former.

In another method the undersurface of said former are treated with different color dyes, a concrete base is laid, the treated former is impressed into said concrete base and further concrete is laid over said former.

The term pavement-like sites is intended to include the following:

l. Childrens play areas.

. Large car parks,

. Swimming bath surrounds internal and external.

. Esplanades.

. Roof gardens and terraces.

. Lawn car parks.

. Garage drives.

. Footpaths.

. Motorway hard shoulders.

l0. Forecourts.

I 1. Fire engine access to hospitals and other buildings.

. Indoor bowling areas.

. Race track mass parking areas.

. Exhibition areas and Showgrounds.

. Self marking of parking areas.

. Road verges.

. Car race tracks.

. Running tracks.

. Caravan sites.

. Municipal park areas.

. Embankments.

. Open air market places.

23. Sports ground surrounds contiguous with natural grass playing area.

24. Dirt track racing areas.

25. National park areas for amenities.

26. Fairground areas.

27. Internal courts.

28. Pedestrian ways and shopping precincts.

29. Air fields.

30. Cat's eyes for roading markings.

The grass and concrete site made in accordance with the invention combines the pleasing appearance and softness o grass with the strength of concrete.

A site can be quicldy formed and the finished result is attractive in appearance yet it can stand up to heavy loads without damage. The site requires no special drainage and in this regard drainage costs can be significantly reduced. In contrast to solid concrete sites frost will not damage a site composed of grass and concrete since the former areas will take up expansion and contraction. The grass can be mowed without trouble and an overall grass appearance can be cultivated.

T he various methods and types of sites which can be produced by this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Methods of producing sites in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a former made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a further former;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the former shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4' is a sectional view of part of a site constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the finished site shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of part of a further site constructcd in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of part of another site constructed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In carrying out the invention use is made of formers 11 made of fiber or plastics material which can have a variety of shapes more preferably resembling an egg tray such as shown in FIG. 1 of .FIGS. 2 and 3. Former 11 comprises a generally planar base sheet 9 having upper and lower surfaces 9a and 9b respectively and a plurality of upstanding hollow peaks 12 extending laterally outwardly from upper surface 9a. Peaks 12 are all approximately of the same height and they open outwardly of surface 9b. Thus, the open bases of peaks 12 are interconnected by base sheet 9 which presents a connecting web for peaks 12. The upper extremity of each peak 12 is substantially closed by a top wall 16 whereby the sidewalls 12a of peaks 12, top wall 16 and base sheet 9 present a generally continuous barrier disposed between and separating a first space 33 comprising the internal hollow spaces of the peaks l2 and a second space 32 generally surrounding the peaks. The formers l I serve to separate soil from concrete or to separate different textured or colored concretious mixtures in a site made in accordance with the invention.

The formers can be made from low-cost self or chemically disintegratable material or from materials which will be more permanent. In certain applications the formers may be removed and re-used as is described hereinafter.

In one method of producing a site shown in FIG. 4 sub surface soil 10 is raked to loosen the same, levelled and seeded with grass. A number of formers 11 are then pressed into the loose sub soil 10 thus forcing the soil 10 into the hollow spaces 33 of frusto-conical peaks 12 of the formers II. The formers l 1 may also be used with the peaks 12 extending downwardly. The individual formers preferably overlap at their margins and a can be interlocked together. Concrete 13 is then placed over the whole area in space 32 and leveled off to coincide with the uppermost surface of the formers I1 so that little or no concrete lies on the top walls 16 of the peaks 12. When the concrete 13 has hardened, the whole site area is rolled to the required degree of consolidation. The effect of this rolling is to crack the small amount of concrete which may still lie on the walls 16 with the result that each peak 12 becomes an independent unit. The set concrete however retains its position. The walls 16 of peaks 12 of the formers l 1 protect the seeded soil 15 therein from birds, winds etc. and serve to maintain ideal moist conditions up to the end of germination of the seed. After the germination period, natural disintegration of the walls 16 of the peaks 12 is speeded up by puncturing o'r tearing away, or chemically dissolving or burning the walls 16 of the peaks 12. The formers 11 can be made from a transparent plastics material so that the grass growth can be observed. The formers 11 are preferably held in position during installation by using a mesh reinforcement depicted by reference numeral 100 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and this increases the rigidity of the site. A series of supports 101 which extend between peaks 12 may be used to support reinforcement 100 as can be seen in FIGS. 2 & 3.

As shown in FIG. 5 the finished site is then composed of a continuous concrete areas 17 interspersed with separate grass areas 18. In an alternative process seeding is not carried out initially but a mixture of soil and seed is brushed into the gaps 19 (FIG. 4) which have resulted from puncturing, tearing away or dissolving or burning the upper walls 16 of the peaks 12 of the formers 11.

In another process small natural turf divots can be pressed down into the cavities 19 thus immediately producing the natural grass areas 18.

In a further alternative process divots of imitation grass made of synthetic plastics material are placed in the areas 18 of FIG. 5. The base of each plastics divot together with a small quantity of soil, sand or sand-cement is pressed through the gaps left by removal of the walls 16 of the peaks 12 and engages with the tapering sides of the gaps 19, so that even with sand or soil filling considerable effort is required to remove a plastics divot once the latter is in position.

Where a sand-cement filling is used, the plastic divots can, of course. be permanently fixed and this has the advantage that the growth of natural grass or weeds over the site is eliminated.

The base onto which the formers 11 are laidcan be composed of ballast or of concrete where the finished site is to withstand heavy loads and in this regard another process is depicted in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6 a concrete base 30 is laid first, the formers 11 are pressed into the base 30 whilst the latter is still wet and plastic so that concrete l3 rises to the top of the'spaces 33 in peaks 12. The top wall 16 of each peak 12 preferably contains one or more small holes 31 to prevent air being trapped beneath the wall 16. After the concrete has set, soil and grass seed 15 is laid into the spaces 32 between the peaks 12 the whole site being rolled to achieve cracking and drainage between the peaks l2 and the top walls 16 of the peaks l2 removed as before.

In this case the site will appear as in FIG. 5 except the areas 17; will be soil and grass areas and the areas 18 will be concrete the whole site having the firm base 30 beneath these areas l7, 18.

The depth of the concrete base 30 underneath the areas 17, 18 can be reinforced to avoid cracking during rolling and consolidation.

To achieve dual or multi-colored concrete site area the process depicted in FIG. 7 can be adapted. For dual colored concrete areas one color concrete 40 is laid first the formers 11 impressed therein as in FIG. 4 to force concrete 40 into space 33. The different color concrete 41 is then laid over the formers II in space 32 and the walls 16 of the peaks l2 removed.

Thus the site will appear as in FIG. 5 except the areas 17 will represent areas of concrete of one color and the areas 18 will represent areas of concrete of the other color.

For multi-colored concrete sites the underside 43 of the top walls 16 of the peaks 12 in the formers 11 are treated with dif-,

ferent colored dyes, which, when brought into contact with wet concrete, stain and penetrate the latter. After the removal of the walls 16 such colors become visible and contrast with the area 17 shown in FIG. 5.

It should be understood that the contour of the formers 11 can be of various sizes, depths and widths, with rectangular, square, circular or octagonal peaks 12.

It is envisaged that the formers would be of relatively low cost, and would be left in position sandwiched between the various areas in the site, but for some operations such as those depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 the formers can be produced from more permanent materials and lifted for re-use after the base concrete (30, 40) has hardened and before the top soil or concrete (32, 41) is laid.

In all cases wire mesh reinforcement in FIGS. 2 and 3) can be laid on the formers l1 i.e. between the peaks l2 and such reinforcement can be completely surrounded by concrete.

The invention can also be applied to camouflage an airfield where grass is induced to cover the entire concrete site. In another application of the invention the peaks 12 of the formers 11 can be used in marking roads. Thus by painting the upper surfaces of walls 16 of the peaks 12 with a fluorescent or reflecting material cats eyes for roads can be produced. The invention can also be extended to the production of paving slabs incorporating formers or incorporating cavities produced by such formers.

I claim:

1. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by interconnected areas of another character, said method comprising:

providing said site with a continuous covering comprising an initially laterally displaceable, generally fonnable first material;

shaping said covering with a former comprising a generally planar base sheet having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow peaks extending laterally outwardly from one surface of the base sheet, said peaks all being approximately of the same height and opening outwardly of the other surface of the base sheet, each of the peaks being substantially closed at the extremity thereof remote from the base sheet whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet present a generally continuous barrier disposed between and separating a first space comprising the internal hollow spaces of the peaks and a second space generally surrounding the peaks,

said shaping comprising laying the former on said covering at the site with the base sheet disposed in substantial parallelism to the upper surface of the covering and with the peaks extending upwardly, and forcing the former downwardly to impress it into the first material until substantially the entirety of the former is at or beneath a level predetermined for the surface of the site and the first space has been substantially filled by said first material displaced into the hollow spaces of the peaks during said impressing of the former into the first material; and filling the spaces formed between the spaced peaks of the displaced first material with an initially displaceable, generally formable second material, said first and second materials each having a different character.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first material comprises loose soil and said second material comprises fluid concrete.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second material comprises loose soil and said first material comprises fluid concrete.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first material comprises fluid concrete of a first color and said second material comprises fluid concrete of a second color.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said loose soil includes grass seed.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid concrete is poured into said second space while the former remains in contact with the soil.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filling step comprises filling said second space with the second material while the former remains in contact with said first material.

spaces of the peaks at the extremities thereof remote from the base sheet whereby said fluid concrete of a first color is produced by contacting said coloring substance during the impressing of the former into the concrete comprising said first material.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein is included the step of removing said former after said first material has been formed and prior to said filling step. 

1. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by interconnected areas of another character, said method comprising: providing said site with a continuous covering comprising an initially laterally displaceable, generally formable first material; shaping said covering with a former comprising a generally planar base sheet having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow peaks extending laterally outwardly from one surface of the base sheet, said peaks all being approximately of the same height and opening outwardly of the other surface of the base sheet, each of the peaks being substantially closed at the extremity thereof remote from the base sheet whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet present a generally continuous barrier disposed between and separating a first space comprising the internal hollow spaces of the peaks and a second space generally surrounding the peaks, said shaping comprising laying the former on said covering at the site with the base sheet disposed in substantial parallelism to the upper surface of the covering and with the peaks extending upwardly, and forcing the former downwardly to impress it into the first material until substantially the entirety of the former is at or beneath a level predetermined for the surface of the site and the first space has been substantially filled by said first material displaced into the hollow spaces of the peaks during said impressing of the former into the first material; and filling the spaces formed between the spaced peaks of the displaced first material with an initially displaceable, generally formable second material, said first and second materials each having a different character.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first material comprises loose soil and said second material comprises fluid concrete.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second material comprises loose soil and said first material comprises fluid concrete.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saId first material comprises fluid concrete of a first color and said second material comprises fluid concrete of a second color.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said loose soil includes grass seed.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid concrete is poured into said second space while the former remains in contact with the soil.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filling step comprises filling said second space with the second material while the former remains in contact with said first material.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fluid concrete is poured into said second space while the former remains in contact with the soil.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein is included the step of removing the extremities of the peaks remote from the base sheet after said concrete has been poured to permit growth of grass.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein is included the step of placing a coloring substance in the internal hollow spaces of the peaks at the extremities thereof remote from the base sheet whereby said fluid concrete of a first color is produced by contacting said coloring substance during the impressing of the former into the concrete comprising said first material.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein is included the step of removing said former after said first material has been formed and prior to said filling step. 